2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[zambonir]

I'm guess they are going to play tomorrow. Current forecast suggests an open couple of hours at game time followed either a wet last couple of innings or a possible delay. But I've seen others that are more negative. Hard to know until it happens.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/philadelphia/19102/hourly-weather-forecast/350540?day=2

[zambonir]

Game now moved to Friday

[andyb]

Probably for the best. Friday looks dry but windy (20 mph gusts to 38). So depending on which way it is blowing we could have a 1-0 game or a 10-9 game.

[zambonir]

It is certainly for the best compared to last year's delayed decision.

[Philsmania]

It is certainly for the best compared to last year's delayed decision.

Last year, the bad weather never came to pass.

[zambonir]

yup which was just another reason it got botched! it's entirely possible the game will be playable tomorrow too but better to have the notice, and not have to spend six hours getting in a game.

where it could still go bad is if the weather isn't good on Friday.

[zambonir]

More notable than fan convenience: the Phillies will now likely have to go with a bullpen game on Tuesday because Turnbull won't be ready - skipping his turn for Wheeler was not just about Wheeler. Not clear if Turnbull himself would be part of that as original plan was for him to pitch a sim game to finish stretching out. But I would think they have to use him (and best case scenario he stays in the game long enough to hit his pitch count).

Phillies-Braves Opening Day postponed until Friday

[andyb]

I would definitely use Turnbull in the bullpen game. Let him go 2 or 3 innings and finish his pitch count in the bullpen. Then the second time around he hopefully would be stretched to at least 70 or 80 pitches.

[zambonir]

Not currently raining but I wouldn't call it a nice day for baseball.

[andyb]

5 players on the IL: Kerkering, Walker, Covey, Rucker, Marchan. Assume Marchan is likely to go on the 60 if they need a spot since he has not played yet. Covey is out of options but Kerkering, Rucker, and Marchan have them available.

[zambonir]

That would be a lot more pitches than Strahm was able to throw as a starter. Even Falter only threw 72 in his first start (which actually wasn't bad).

_Walker’s spot in the starting rotation will be filled by righty Spencer Turnbull, who threw 52 pitches in three innings last Saturday against the Yankees in Tampa, Fla. The Phillies intended to use a scheduled day off Friday to give Turnbull an extra day to be ready. But with the opening-day rainout, the plans had to be altered.

Turnbull will start Tuesday night against the Reds at Citizens Bank Park, followed by ace Zack Wheeler in the series finale Wednesday. Thomson said Turnbull, who threw in the bullpen Thursday with hitters standing in against him, should be able to throw 80 to 85 pitches in his first start.

Phillies expect Orion Kerkering to be ready to return when IL stint ends April 9

[bkeich]

Is this another… rainout but it isn’t raining in Philly? Looks to me like the storm is already in the ocean.

Oh well, I couldn’t watch anyway​

[zambonir]

Yeah, it's playable rain at most.

[andyb]

That would be a lot more pitches than Strahm was able to throw as a starter.

Turnbull is stretched out a bit more. On the 23rd he threw 3 IP and 52 pitches. Assume his sim game today was in the 65 pitch range. 80 might be a stretch for his first start but 70 should be realistic.

[bkox]

Orion Kerkering 97-98 for Lehigh Valley in his one inning today pic.twitter.com/zdGIjX8K68

— Mitch Rupert ( @Mitch_Rupert ) March 30, 2024

[phillychuck]

Do we worry at all that this Phillies management group is not bvery good at getting the players ready for the season? They don't look like they belong in the same league as the Braves.

[zambonir]

I am not sure it means a thing, just like how you play in October is kind of random. Teams are hot and not, the schedule varies, etc. In the end three years in a row of this from an ostensibly good team feels like a trend (unless this team isn't good) but it didn't really mean anything before that did it (i.e. they were mediocre from start to finish)?

Last year they started on the road against the eventual WS champion; this year they started against a great team. It's hard to understand why them and not us especially if the weather is allegedly a factor but the Phillies got great starting pitching yesterday and the both teams got bad starting pitching today and this is how the chips fell.Their bullpen was better than our hitters and not vice-versa and that cost the Phillies both games. The Braves' line-up is clearly better than the Phillies' line-up so it really is up to the pitching to balance that out in the big picture.

I mean, I'd rather we sit here wondering about the slow starts than be where the Braves were for the last two Octobers. Lots of their fans thinking something had to change.

[zambonir]

Phillies' lineup choices hint they still don't view Brandon Marsh as an everyday...

Today it's Pache, with Merrifield playing 2B and Sosa playing 3B and Bohm at 1B. Your typical Sunday line-up really (not so much because guys need a break as guys need their first game).

But what about tomorrow (when there's another LH starting pitcher)?

[andyb]

Merrifield was always going to cost Stott and Marsh some at bats. I'll give the manager a pass on this as I do think it is good to get everyone on the roster a start during the first few games. I imagine Stubbs will play one game the next series against a RHP.

As for Marsh, I do think they need to give him more responsibility in the lineup. Yes his stats last year were helped by a huge BABIP and a lack of starts against tough lefties, but he also hit very well and is young enough where he can improve some. I am more hopeful for Marsh hitting a higher level than Bohm for instance. I just don't think Bohm will ever be the power threat he needs to be in order to offset the defense. He is fine when his contract is below $10 million (maybe 1 more year of that) but after that I really am hopeful Miller is ready to take over in 2026 or 2027.

Also, let's hope Bryce's hand did not swell up after yesterday. It is nice to get Sosa a game, but hopefully Bryce is available to pinch hit. I'd rather sit Schwarber against a tough lefty than Bryce in the future.

[zambonir]

Yeah, it is a bit of a Catch-22 for Marsh, he can't improve if he doesn't get chances. But, so long as Merrifield is productive (we'll see) that platoon is also what's best for the team. Pache is actually the complicating factor, at least for now. He'll presumably play for Rojas once a week, but if he continues to get a second start in LF that's also when we'll see what we're getting today, Merrifield instead of Stott.